Key workers in cancer care: patient and staff attitudes and implications for role development in cancer services

Do outpatients with cancer and their relatives want to use an online booking system to book the appointment and radiographer for their CT examination? A small-scale study in Denmark

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies have found that online booking systems may be the preferred scheduling tool when booking appointments with healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to examine I) if outpatients with cancer and relatives of cancer patients wanted to use an online booking system to book appointments for the CT examinations, and II) if they wanted to book specific radiographers for the CT examinations.

METHODS

An online questionnaire was distributed to outpatients with cancer and relatives of cancer patients registered in the user panel of the Danish Cancer Society. The questionnaires consisted of 13 questions for patients and eight questions for relatives. The study applied statistical analysis and qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach.

RESULTS

In total, 555 patients out of 760 (73%) and 115 out of 341 (34%) relatives were included in the present study and 54% of the patients and 65% of the relatives responded that they wanted, "To a high degree" or "To some degree", to use an online system for booking the appointment of the CT examination. Furthermore, 49% of the patients and 60% of the relatives found it important, "To a high degree" or "To some degree", that the appointment of the CT examination also suited their relatives. Only 37% of the patients, in contrast to 56% of the relatives, were interested in the opportunity to book specific radiographers. Approximately half of the patients (48%) and relatives (58%) were interested in being scanned by the same radiographers.

CONCLUSION

In this study, a majority of patients and relatives were interested in using an online booking system to book their CT examinations. Furthermore, while a majority of the relatives were more interested in booking specific radiographers for the CT examinations, only a few patients were interested in this function.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Using an online booking system to book the appointment could benefit the overall experience for cancer patients and relatives when attending a CT examination to ensure that the appointment also suits the relatives.

Uncertainty and self-efficacy in parents of a child with congenital cataract-New implications for clinical practice

AIM

The aim was an in-depth exploration of uncertainty and self-efficacy among parents of a child with congenital cataract by means of two theoretical frameworks to re-design family care.

DESIGN

A directed content analysis in accordance with Hsieh & Shannon, using Mishel's theory of uncertainty and Bandura's self-efficacy theory.

METHODS

Open-ended, in-depth interviews were conducted with 23 parents of a child with congenital cataract; six mothers, five fathers and six couples.

RESULTS

In this novel study, self-efficacy was interpreted as the ability to balance between uncertainty and acceptance. The performance accomplishment of the child and parents bridges the gap between uncertainty and acceptance by reducing uncertainty, thus constituting the level of self-efficacy. Setbacks and complications increase uncertainty and reduce self-efficacy, thus performance accomplishment is a mediator of self-efficacy, while ability to master uncertainty determines the level of self-efficacy.

Exploring the Role of Key Workers in Cancer Care: Patient and Staff Perspectives

PURPOSE/AIMS

The key worker role in cancer services was established in England to improve the continuity of care for patients. We examined how the role has been implemented by clinical nurse specialists and how both cancer patients and nursing staff viewed its effectiveness to inform debate about the transfer of patients between clinical nurse specialists during cancer care.

DESIGN

This study was questionnaire based, with separate surveys developed for patients and staff.

METHOD

The questionnaires explored issues including implementation of the key worker role, modifications to it, and where the role was felt to have most impact. The questionnaires were completed by 101 staff members and 46 patients. The data were analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

Perspectives on the key worker role differed between nursing staff respondents and patient respondents. Overall, patient respondents were very positive, whereas staff respondents were less so. The following is a key difference related to patient handover: 71% of patient respondents wanted the same key worker throughout their treatment, but only 28% of staff respondents did. Staff respondents wanted more training to clarify the role.

CONCLUSION

Continuity of care through an assigned key worker was highly valued by patients. Successful implementation could be better achieved through improved communication with both nursing staff and allied health professions. Where possible, cancer patients should be assigned a dedicated key worker at initial diagnosis.